Updates for PAR-16-354 "Advanced Laboratories for Accelerating the Reach and Impact of Treatments for Youth and Adults with Mental Illness (ALACRITY) Research Centers (P50)"

Notice Number: NOT-MH-16-022

Key Dates
Release Date: September 15, 2016

Related Announcements
PAR-16-354

Issued by
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to correct and clarify application requirements for PAR-16-354 "Advanced Laboratories for Accelerating the Reach and Impact of Treatments for Youth and Adults with Mental Illness (ALACRITY) Research Centers (P50)". Exactly three Research projects must be submitted. Page limits for Research Projects are 6 pages for each project. The total project period may not exceed 4 years.

Section I
Current language:
The scope of science should comprise at least three exploratory research projects modeled on the NIMH R34 grant mechanism. These projects should propose innovative, transdisciplinary approaches that address ALACRITY Center goals of optimizing the effectiveness of therapeutic or preventive interventions for well-defined target populations; organizing and delivering optimized mental health services within real world treatment settings; and/or continuously improving the quality, impact, and durability of optimized interventions within diverse care systems. (Funding Opportunity Announcements RFA-MH-16-40, Pilot Effectiveness Trials for Treatment, Preventive and Services Interventions (R34) and PAR-15-323, Pilot Services Research Grants Not Involving Interventions (R34) provide examples regarding the focus and scope of potential pilot projects).

Revised language:
The scope of science should comprise three exploratory research projects modeled on the NIMH R34 grant mechanism. These projects should propose innovative, transdisciplinary approaches that address ALACRITY Center goals of optimizing the effectiveness of therapeutic or preventive interventions for well-defined target populations; organizing and delivering optimized mental health services within real world treatment settings; and/or continuously improving the quality, impact, and durability of optimized interventions within diverse care systems. (Funding Opportunity Announcements RFA-MH-16-40, Pilot Effectiveness Trials for Treatment, Preventive and Services Interventions (R34) and PAR-15-323, Pilot Services Research Grants Not Involving Interventions (R34) provide examples regarding the focus and scope of potential pilot projects).

Part 2. Section IV. Application and Submission Information

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Correction Regarding number of Research Projects and page limitations:

Page Limitations

Current Language:

Component Types Available in ASSIST

Research Strategy/Program Plan Page Limits

Overall

6

Admin Core (Use for Administrative Core)

6

Methods Core

12

Research Projects

6

Additional page limits described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

Instructions for the Submission of Multi-Component Applications
The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, and should be used for preparing a multi-component application.

Revision applications must include an Overall component and the components that are affected by the revision. Therefore, the component requirements listed below may not apply to the revision application.

The application should consist of the following components:

  • Overall: required
  • Administrative Core: required; maximum one
  • Methods Core: required; maximum one
  • Research Projects: required; maximum 3

Revised Language:

Component Types Available in ASSIST

Research Strategy/Program Plan Page Limits

Overall

6

Admin Core (Use for Administrative Core)

6

Methods Core

12

Research Projects

6 for each project

Additional page limits described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

Instructions for the Submission of Multi-Component Applications
The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, and should be used for preparing a multi-component application.

Revision applications must include an Overall component and the components that are affected by the revision. Therefore, the component requirements listed below may not apply to the revision application.

The application should consist of the following components:

  • Overall: required
  • Administrative Core: required; maximum one
  • Methods Core: required; maximum one
  • Research Projects: required; minimum of 3; maximum 3

Correction Regarding:

Section IV Application and Submission Information

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

PHS 398 Research Plan (Methods Core)

Current language

Generate Innovative Research Methods and Chart Future Directions: Describe the Core’s role in generating new research opportunities that capitalize on the Center’s transdisciplinary nature. Detail the Core’s role in catalyzing, selecting, and rapidly implementing pilot studies proposed by Center collaborators, including trainees, junior faculty, and new investigators, during the 5-year project period.

Corrected language

Generate Innovative Research Methods and Chart Future Directions: Describe the Core’s role in generating new research opportunities that capitalize on the Center’s transdisciplinary nature. Detail the Core’s role in catalyzing, selecting, and rapidly implementing pilot studies proposed by Center collaborators, including trainees, junior faculty, and new investigators, during the 4-year project period.

All other aspects of the FOA remain unchanged.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Joel Sherrill, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-2477 
Email: jsherril@mail.nih.gov